Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In what one member of Congress called `` a charade , '' a couple that showed up at President Obama 's first state dinner -- uninvited , the White House claims -- declined to answer questions surrounding the event before a House committee Wednesday .

Under questioning from House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson , D-Mississippi , and others , Tareq Salahi repeated over and over again , `` On the advice of counsel , I respectfully assert my right to remain silent and decline to answer your question . ''

The Salahis ' attorney notified the committee in December that because of a pending investigation by federal prosecutors , they would not answer questions about how they gained entry to the White House on November 24 , despite not being on the guest list to attend that night 's state dinner for the prime minister of India .

In a brief statement that opened the often-contentious hearing , Salahi chastised the committee for requiring the couple to appear despite having been told the two would invoke their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if subpoenaed . That , he alleged , is against the ethical rules of the Washington bar .

He incensed some committee members by reiterating the couple 's respect for U.S. troops , the Secret Service and the president .

`` You have shown effrontery here , '' said Daniel Lungren , R-California . He called it `` an abomination '' that the Salahis would invoke the name of those in uniform `` and suggest that somehow what you do provides support to them . ''

`` The Constitution protects fools , '' Lungren said . `` The Constitution protects stupidity . The Constitution protects errant thought . Thank God it does . ''

`` This was not a hearing looking for information , '' the couple 's attorney , Stephen Best , told reporters after the hearing . `` This was an opportunity for a public flogging . ''

`` I think today 's procedure is a charade , '' Rep. Mark Souder , R-Indiana , said in the hearing , referring to the Salahis ' refusal to answer questions .

Other committee members also lambasted the couple , alleging they put their own desire for celebrity before the security of the president and are wasting the committee 's time and taxpayers ' money .

`` I do n't respect your right to take the Fifth Amendment . Not at all , '' Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. , D-New Jersey , told the couple .

`` Were you there ? '' he asked Salahi , referring to the dinner .

When Salahi began , `` On the advice ... '' Pascrell interrupted him , asking , `` Are you here right now ? You gon na get an answer from your attorney on that ? ''

Pascrell noted the committee had offered to allow the couple to speak behind closed doors . After conferring with his attorney , Salahi said , `` Yes , but you did n't offer us any legal protection . ''

Salahi 's wife , Michaele , also invoked her Fifth Amendment right under questioning by committee members , but replied , `` yes , '' when asked if she would return to testify after the investigation has concluded .

Asked by Thompson whether the state dinner appearance was part of a `` reality TV stunt , '' Tareq Salahi said the couple was under a non-disclosure agreement and `` should not discuss matters related to the television matter . ''

The Salahis contend they were told they could attend the program to honor India 's prime minister , but the White House says they were not invited and were not on the guest list for the exclusive affair .

Best said after the hearing the couple received `` representations that they relied upon '' that they were invited guests . Two Secret Service investigators were privy to this information from a person who knows the Salahis , he said . `` This was not a stunt , and they committed no criminal act . ''

There was no connection to any reality TV show , he said , and the Salahis were not seeking publicity . The couple has turned down multiple offers from the media to be `` rewarded handsomely , '' he added .

`` Whatever the real story is , it 's on the other side of the gates of the White House , not with the Salahis , '' Best said . `` They thought they were invited . ... If it was a misunderstanding , it was a misunderstanding caused by representatives of the government . ''

Tareq Salahi also noted in his opening statement that the couple 's attorneys have offered to provide information to the committee , but that offer was declined by Thompson 's staff .

`` Those offers are not satisfactory , '' Thompson said . `` These lawyers were not at the state dinner and have no firsthand knowledge of the facts . ''

Tareq Salahi also said the couple has provided phone records , e-mails and other documentary evidence to the committee .

There also was criticism of the White House in Wednesday 's hearing .

Rep. Peter King , R-New York , said the White House `` continues to stonewall '' and will not allow social secretary Desiree Rogers to testify on the security breach .

Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs has said that allowing a White House staff member to testify before a congressional committee would violate the Constitution 's separation of powers .

`` I do n't know what the White House is trying to hide , '' King said . `` Obviously , something went wrong , and it originated with the White House , not the Secret Service . ''

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan , in previous testimony before the committee , took responsibility for the security breach , acknowledging that `` appropriate procedures were not followed . ''

Rep. Charles Dent , R-Pennsylvania , said Wednesday he thought it was `` unfortunate '' that Sullivan `` had to take all that grief from us . ''

`` I hold you responsible for it , '' he told the Salahis .

`` Your actions ... made a mockery of this country , a mockery of our security , '' Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee , D-Texas , told the couple . `` I 'm saddened , and I 'm disappointed , and I 'm outraged . ''

Best reiterated afterward the Salahis do not want the events surrounding the dinner to detract from the `` extraordinary institution '' of the Secret Service .

`` They are Americans , '' he said . `` They are proud Americans . ''

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Tareq and Michaele Salahi decline to answer questions at congressional hearing

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House panel looking into how the couple attended state dinner in November

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White House says they were n't invited ; Secret Service says procedures not followed

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Salahis ' attorney says they ca n't answer questions because of pending investigation